Time-recorder.



C. E. TOMLINSON.

' TIMYE RECORDER. APPLICATION man now I2, 1910.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ATTORNEYS C. E. TOMLINSON.

TIME RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. 1910.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

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NVENTOR ATTORNEY C. E. TOMLINSON.

TIME RECORDER. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. 1910.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. TOMLINSON, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 INTERNATIONAL TIME RECORDING COMPANY OF NEW YORK, 01' ENDI- COTT, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TIME-RECORDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed November 12, 1910. Serial No. 591,943.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. ToMLIN- SON, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Time-Recorder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to time recorders and has for its object a particularly simple and eliicient ribbon mechanism therefor and also means for supporting such mechanism and one of the elements of the printing couple of the recording machine; and 1t consists in the combinations and construetions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate correspond ing parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one em" bodiment of my invention, the parts being shown as in their normal position, and the case and other parts of the machine being removed and one of the elements of the printing couple being partly broken away. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, partly broken away and in section, the parts being shown as in their position assumed during the printing operation. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the ribbon mechanism and contiguous parts. Fig. 4: is an elevation, partly in section, looking to the left in Fig. 1. Fig. is a plan view of the supporting means and guiding means for the movable element of the printing couple and contiguous parts. Fig. 6 is a section on line A A, Fig. 2, parts being removed. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modified form of the ribbon mechanism.

"his recording machine comprises, generally, a printing couple including two elements, one being movable toward and from the other, supporting means for one of the elements, ribbon mechanism carried by such su ')porting means and operable to feed the ribbon during the relative movement of the elements of the printing couple, and means for effecting such relative movement.

I have illustrated my invention as embodied in that type of time recorders known as dial. time recorders, in which one of the elements of the printing couple consists of a drum and the other comprises type wheels, the drum supporting a record sheet on its periphery and being movable about its axis for bringing the spaces on the record sheet assigned to the different workmen to the printing line preliminary to the relative movement of such elements for effecting the printing on the record sheet. The operation of the drum may be effected in any well known manner common to this type of recorders, and also the relative movement of the elements of the printing couple for effecting the actuation of the ribbon mechanism may be effected in any well known manner and one way particularly adapted to the operation of my machine will be hereinafter described.

Although I have illustrated this invention as embodied in the dial type of time recorders it will be understood that it may be used in connection with other types of recording machines or stamps.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention the printing couple comprises a drum 1 and type wheels 2, 3, the wheel 2 being the minute wheel and connected to the minute shaft of the clock mechanism, not shown, in any suitable manner, and the wheel 3 being the hour wheel and actuated once during each revolution by such wheel 2 in the usual manner; and the type wheels 2, 3 are movable toward and from the periphery of the drum 1 and the ribbon mechanism is movable with the type wheels and is actuatedto feed the ribbon during such movement. The wheel 3 is usually provided with a series of shoulders or teeth 4 designed to be engaged by the shoulder or tooth 5 on the wheel 2.

The type wheel 2 is mounted on an axle 6 journaled at its opposite ends in rocker arms or levers 7 pivoted at S to the frame elements or standards 9, the axle being con 'nected to the time mechanism, not shown,

in any well known manner. The type wheels are supported and guided in their movement toward and from the drum 1, by the rocker arms or levers 7 and also by rocker arms or levers 10 extending parallel to the arms or levers 7 and arranged above the same, the rocker arms or levers 10 being pivoted at 11 to the frame elements or standards 9 and also pivotally connected at different points to the axle 6 for the wheel 2 and to the support or carriage for the axle of the wheel 3. The rocker arms or levers 7, 10 are connected together by a link 12 which holds them in parallelism during their pivotal movement, and such link 12 usually consists of two parts connected together by a turn buckle 13 operable for adjusting the position of the rocker arms or levers and maintaining them in. parallelism. The levers 10 carry a shaft 14; at their ends extending parallel to the axle 6, and the axle 6 and shaft 1 1 are con nected by a frame member 15 supporting the axle for the wheel 3 and having bearings 16 and 1. on said axle and shaft, respectively, the axle and shaft serving as pivots connecting said element 15 and the levers 7 and 10. However it is not necessary that the bearing 17 support the shaft 6 it being only necessary that the frame member 15 hang pendant from the shaft lt and held at the bearing 17 from lateral movement relatively to the shaft 6.

The rocker arms or levers 10 guide the frame member 15 and type wheel 3 carried thereby during the movement of the levers 7, and prevent relative movement of the wheels 2, 3 during the printing operation, and although such levers 10 are particularly advantageous in combination with other parts of my recording machine, nevertheless the guiding function of the levers 10 may be performed by any other suitable means.

The rocker arms or levers 7 and 10 are arranged in pairs or sets and there are two sets of such levers, Fig. 5. However, there may be, so far as this invention is concerned, one set of such rocker arms or levers supportin stud aXle and a stud shaft at their ends or having their ends bifurcated. Two pairs of sets spaced far apart, compared with the width of the wheels 2, 3 along their axis, are employed in order to provide for a lateral shifting movement of the type wheels and their associated parts.

The rocker arms or levers 7 of the sets are connected. by a bar 18 integral therewith; the arms or levers 10 are also connected by a similar bar 19, and usually the link 12 is connected directly to these bars 18 and 19 intermediate of the ends thereof.

In the illustrated form of my recording machine the frame member 15 is provided with an extension or arm 20 projecting beyond the axle 6 and having a stud axle 21 at its lower end, upon which the type wheel 3 is mounted, said arm being also formed with a yoke 22 near its lower end for supporting the ribbon mechanism as hereinafter described. The term yoke is employed merely for convenience of description and it will be understood that any form of support may be used.

Preferably the bearing 17 is formed with one side open for permitting the link or frame member 15 to be swung about the shaft 14% as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, carrying the ribbon mechanism therewith,

the member 15 being normally held from movement away from the shaft it by a looking pin 23 extending across the open side of the bearing 17 as seen in Fig. 1. The bearing 17 does not directly engage the shaft 6 but encircles a sleeve 2% on the shaft 6 and rotatable therewith, and is arranged between an annular shoulder 25 on said sleeve 24 and the hub of the type wheel 2 which is also mounted directly on the sleeve 24:. As the type wheel 2 and sleeve 2% are shiftable axially, the member 15 is also shiftable axially therewith, such axial shifting being for the purpose of arranging consecutive registrations of each workmen side by side. The means for effecting such shifting forms no part of this invention and any well known means may be employed.

The movement of the type wheels 2, 3, toward and from the drum 1 is effected by moving the rocker arms or levers 7 and 10 on their pivots 8 and 11, and said arms or levers are moved in one direction for moving the type wheels 2 and 3 toward the drum, by a manually operated part as arod 26 having a shoulder 27 for engaging an extension 28 of one of the levers 7, the rod 26 also having another shoulder 29 for engaging the rock arm 30 mounted on the shaft 1 1- upon which is also mounted a rock arm 31 having a pawl 32 which enters be tween teeth of a rack 33 provided on the type wheel 2, for centering such wheel durmg the printing operation, the shoulders 27 and 29 are so spaced apart that the shaft 141 is rocked to engage the pawl 32 with the rack 33 before the shoulder 27 engages the arm 28, so as to center the type wheel 2, before printing. The rocking of the shaft 141- is against the action of a spring 3 1 which returns such shaft to its starting position. The rock arm 31 which carries the pawl 32 1s fixed to a bearing or collar 35 fixed to the shaft 1 1 to rock therewith but slidable axially thereof with the type wheel 2 and the frame element 15. The bearing or collar 35 is here shown as coupled by a key 36 to the bearing 16 of the frame element 15, Fig. at.

The rocker arms or levers 7 and 10 are returned to their starting position to move the type wheels 2, 3 away from the drum 1 by a spring 37 connected to the link 12 and to a shelf 38 forming part of the main frame of the machine.

The ribbon mechanism comprises, generally, spools 39, 10 carried by the yoke 22 on opposite sides of the printing point, a ribbon l1 winding on one spool while unwinding from the other, spring pressed pawls 42, 43 for actuating the spools 39, 1-0 respectively, one pawl being in operative position with its companion spool while the other pawl is out of operative position, operating members for the pawls and reversing means carried by the yoke 22 or the arm 20 and operating to control the movement ofthe pawl which is in operative position out of such position, and the other pawl into operative position, the reversing means operating to move the pawl which is in operative position out of operative position during the relative movement of the elements of the printing. couple, so that the prime mover forfeeding the ribbon is the manually operated means for effecting the relative movement of the elements of the printing couple, and the time mechanism is released of the strain of working the ribbon feeding mechanism.

As here illustrated, Fig. 6 the spools are mounted upon axles 44 carried at the opposite sides of the yoke 22, the axles being journaled in bearings 45 in said yoke and having ratchetwheels 46 thereon and each having means as a pin 47 for interlocking with the contiguous spool 39 or 40 so that the spool will rotate with the ratchetwheel. Each axle 44 is provided with friction means as a spring 48 located within the bearing 45 and pressed against the walls of the axle opening, for preventing overthrow of the spool. The axles are held in position by screws 49 turning in the end of the axles and having their heads large enough to shoulder against end faces of the bearings 45.

The operating members forthe spools 39, 40, respectively, are levers 50, 51 mounted coaxially with the spools between the bearings 45 and the ratchet wheels 46 and each is provided with arms 52, 53, the arm 52 supporting the pawl 42 or 43 which is pivoted at 54 or 55 thereto and the other arm 53 being adapted to be engaged during the relative movement of the elements of the printing couple so thatthe levers will move on their pivots and actuate the pawls. Each ofthe pawls 42 or 43 is held in either its operative or inoperative position by a detent 56 fixed at one end to the hub of the lever 50 or 51 and having its other end movable into one-ofa pair of sockets 57 provided in each pawl 42 or 43, the. detent 56 extending in one socket when the pawl is in operative position as shown at the left hand of Fig. 1, and in the other socket when the pawl is out of operative position as shown at the right side of Fig. 1.

The reversing means comprises -a movable member 58 controlled in its-operation by the ribbon accumulating on the winding spool, means operable by the member 58 and movable gradually toward the path of the pawl coacting with the winding spool as the coil of ribbon enlarges on the winding spool and movable into such path as the member 58 reverses, and also means operable by the member 58 for moving the pawl which is out of operative position in operative position as the member 58 completes its reversing movement.

The member 58 is here shown as pivoted at 59 between its ends to the arm 20, each end-thereof being adapted to coact with the coil of ribbon accumulating on the winding spool while the other end is out of engagement with the coil of ribbon on the un winding. spool so. that the member 58 is gradually tilted on its pivot as the coil of ribbon accumulates on the winding spool. Means is provided for causing such member to jump suddenly to the completion of its reversing movement when a certain amount of ribbon has accumulated on the winding spool. This means comprises a rock arm 60 mounted on the pivot 59 of the member 58 and coacting with a spring 61 in the shape of a bow fixed at its opposite ends at to the yoke 22, and carrying a rounding shoulder or roller 63 which presses against one side of the rock arm 60 during the movement of said arm while the member 60 is being. moved gradually by the ribbon accumulating on the winding spool, the spring being gradually pressed or tensioned outwardly during such movement and the shoulder or roller 63 pressing against the opposite face of such arm causing the memher 58 to jump to the completion of its reversing movement when the reversing member 58 has passed its central position and the rock arm 60 has passed the high point of the shoulder 63.

The means movable gradually toward the path of the pawl 42 or 43 which is in operative position comprises elements as levers 64 or 65, one lever for each pawl 42, 43, the levers being pivoted at 66, and 67, respectively, to the yoke 22 on opposite sides of the pivot 59 and having shoulders 68 and 69 movable toward the pawls or tails 70, 71 thereof, respectively, each lever 64 or 65 being movable. for carrying its shoulder 68 or 69 into. the path of the tail 70 or 71 of the corresponding pawl when said pawl is in operative position and movable into such path when themember 58 is moved to the completion of its reverse movement by the spring 61, as described.

The connections between the member 58 and the levers 64 or 65 comprise shoulders or pins 72 and 73 projecting from the member on opposite sides of the pivot 59 and located farther from said pivot than the pivots 66 and 67 of the levers 64 and 65. Thus owing to the fact that the shoulders 72 and 73 are located greater distances from the pivot 59 than the pivots 66 and 67 of the levers 64 and 65, and to the fact that such levers are pivoted to the yoke 22, such levers 64, 65 will be moved about their pivots during the pivotal movement of the rocking member 60.

The pawl 42 or 43 which. is out of opera tive position is moved into operative position during the completion of the reversing &

movement of the rocking member 58, by a shoulder 74 or 75 provided on the member 58 and arranged to engage the tail 7 0 or 71 of the pawl 42 or 43 out of operative position and move such pawl on its pivot.

The arms 53 of the operating levers preferably engage the periphery of the drum 1 during the relative movement of the drum and the type wheels 2, 3 but such arms may be engaged by other means arranged in the path thereof, as a shelf 76 as illustrated in Fig. 7.

The operation of the ribbon mechanism is as follows-Assume that the ribbon is being wound on the left hand spool 39, Fig. l, and the parts are in their position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. During the movement of the type wheels 2, 3 and the frame member 20 and the yoke 22 toward the drum, the arm 53 of the lever 50 engages the drum, moving the lever 50 about its axis a ainst the action of its returning spring 77 until limited by a stop 78 striking the yoke 22, and causes the pawl 42 engaged with the ratchet wheel 46 connected to the-spool 39 to feed the spool one step. The arm 53 of the other lever 51 likewise engages the drum and is actuated against the action of its spring 77 but as its pawl 43 is out of operative position the actuation of such lever is of no effect. As the ribbon on the spool 39 accumulates it gradually rocks the member 58 on its pivot 59 until the rock arm 60 passes the high point of the spring pressed shoulder or roller 63, when the rocking member 58 jumps to the completion of its reverse movement. During the gradual tilting of the member 58 the shoulder 68 of the lever 64 is carried toward the path of the tail 7 O of the pawl 42 and jumps into said path when the member 58 jumps to the completion of its reverse movement. As such. rocking member 58 jumps to the completion of its reverse movement, the shoulder 7 5 strikes the tail 71 of the pawl 43 and actuates said pawl into position to engage the ratchet wheel associated with the spool 40. W hen this last operation takes place both pawls 42, 43 are in operative position but during the next printing operation of the machine both the arms 53 of both operating levers 50, 51 will engage the drum 1 and while the lever 51 is actuating its pawl 43 to turn the spool 40, the other pawl 42 is actuated by its lever 50 but the tail of such pawl engages the shoulder 68 of the lever 64 moving such pawl 42 in its pivot 54 out of operative position. The ribbon is guided from one spool to the other across the printing point by rods 79 engaging the under side of said ribbon and carried at the ends of the arms 80 extending in opposite directions from the lower end of the arm 20.

l Vhat l claim is 1. In a recording machine, a printing couple including two members, one member being movable toward and from the other and including two type wheels of dissimilar diameters and movable about different axes and printing at a common point, an axle carrying the wheel of larger diameter, a stationary frame member, means for carrying the axle including a lever pivotally connected to the stationary frame member, a supporting member connected to the axle, a second axle carried by said supporting member and having the smaller type wheel mounted thereon, and a second lever arran ed parallel to the first and pivotally connected to the supporting member and stationary frame member, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a recording machine, a printing couple including two members, one being movable toward and from the other and including two type wheels of dissimilar diameters and movable about different axes, an axle carrying the wheel of larger diameter, a stationary frame member, means for carrying the axle including a lever pivotally connected to the stationary frame member, a supporting member connected to the axle, a second axle carried by said supporting member and having the smaller type wheel mounted thereon, ribbon mechamsm also carried by said supporting member and a second lever arranged parallel to the first and pivotally connected to the supporting member and stationary frame member, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a recording machine, a stationary frame member, a printing couple including two members, one movable toward and from the other and including two type wheels of dissimilar diameters and movable about different axes, an axle carrying the wheel of larger diameter, a rocking frame pivoted to said stationary frame and carrying said axle, ribbon mechanism, a supporting member connected to the axle and having portions extending above and below the same, the portion extending below the axle carrying the wheel of smaller diameter and the ribbon mechanism, and a connection between the stationary frame member and the portion of the supporting member extending above the axle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a recording machine, a frame, a printing couple including two elements, one being movable toward and from the other, and one of the elements including two type wheels of dissimilar diameters and movable abput different axes, supporting means comprismg two sets of levers pivoted to the frame, the levers of each set extending substantially parallel to each other, and one set being spaced apart from the other, a shaft extending between corresponding levers of the sets, an axle supported by the other levers of the sets, said axle carrying the wheel of larger diameter, a member having bearings on the shaft and axle, a second axle supported by said member and carrying the wheel of smaller diameter, and actuating means for moving the movable element of the printing couple toward the other element, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a recording machine, a frame, a printing couple including two elements, one being movable toward and from the other, and one of the elements including two type wheels of dissimilar diameters and movable about different axes, a rack carried by the wheel of larger diameter, supporting means comprising two sets of levers pivoted to the frame, the levers of each set extending substantially parallel to each other, and one set being spaced apart from the other, a shaft extending between corresponding levers of the sets, a pawl carried thereby for cooperating with said rack, an axle supported by the other levers of the sets, said axle carrying the wheel of larger diameter, a member having bearings on the shaft and axle, a second axle supported by said member and carrying the wheel of smaller diameter, and actuating means for moving the movable element of the printing couple toward and from the other element, and for moving the pawl into engagement with the rack, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a recording machine, a frame, a printing couple including two elements, one being-movable toward and from the other and including two printing wheels of dissimilar diameters and movable about different axes, a rack carried by the wheel of larger diameter, two sets of levers pivoted between their ends to the frame, the levers of each set extending substantially parallel to each other and one set being spaced apart from the other, cross-bars connecting the corresponding levers of the sets, means connecting the bars and operable to adjust the levers on their pivots and maintaining the levers of each set in parallelism,

a shaft extending between corresponding levers of the sets, a pawl carried thereby for cooperating with the rack, an axle supported by the other lever and carrying the printingwheel of larger diameter, and a member having. bearings on the shaft and axle, said member supporting a second axle carrying the wheel of smaller diameter, and means for moving the levers on their pivots and thereby moving the. movable element of the printing couple toward and from the other element, and for rocking the shaft to move the pawl into engagement with the rack, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7.111 a recording machine, .a frame; a

printing couple comprising two elements, one being movable toward and from the other and including two type wheels of dissimilar diameters and movable about different axes, an axle for the wheel of larger diameter, and a rocking frame carrying the same, and pivotally connected to the firstnamed frame, a second rocking frame pivotally connected to the first-named frame and movable in unison with the first-named rocking frame, a shaft carried by the second rocking frame, a supporting member pivotally connected at one end to said shaft and at an intermediate point to said axle, and having a part extending below the axle, and an axle for the wheel of smaller diameter carried by the last-named part of said member, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a recording machine, a stationary frame, a printing couple comprising two elements, one movable toward and from the other and including two wheels of dissimilar diameters and movable about different axes, an axle for the wheel of larger diameter, a rocking frame carrying the same and pivotally connected to the stationary frame, a corresponding rocking frame pivotally connected to the stationary frame and movable in unison with the first-named rocking frame, a shaft carried by the second rocking frame, a supporting member pivotally mounted at one end on said shaft and having a detachable connection to the axle and having a part extending below the axle, an axle for the wheel of smaller diameter carried by the last-named member, and ribbon mechanism also carried by said member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a recording machine, a frame, a printing couple including two elements, one being movable toward and from the other and comprising two type wheels of different diameters and movable about different axes, axles supporting the type wheels, a lever pivoted to the frame and connected to one of the axles, a member supporting the other axle, said member being connected to the first-named axle, a second lever pivotally connected to the frame member for guiding such member during the movement of one printing element toward and from the other, and ribbon mechanism carried by said member,substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. In a recording machine, a frame, a printing couple including two elements, one being movable toward and from the other, and comprising two type wheels of different diameters and movable about different axes, axles supporting the type wheels, a lever pivoted to the frame and connected to one of the axles, a member connected to the first-named axle and supporting the other axle, and a second lever arranged and opcrating in parallelism with the first and having pivotal connections to said frame and supporting member, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a recording machine, a frame, a printing couple comprising two elements, one being movable toward and from the other and including two type wheels of different diameters and movable about different axes, an axle carrying the wheel of larger diameter, supporting means therefor including a lever pivotally connected to the frame and having the axle mounted in the free end thereof, a second axle carrying the printing wheel of smaller diameter, a member having a part depending from the firstnamed axle and supporting the secondnamed axle, and ribbon mechanism carried by said member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. lin a recording machine, a frame, a printing couple comprising two elements, one being movable toward and from the other and including two type wheels of different diameters and movable about different axes, an axle carrying the wheel of larger diameter, supporting means therefor including a lever pivotally connected to the frame and having the axle mounted in the free end thereof, a second axle carrying the printing wheel of smaller diameter, a member having a part depending from the firstnamed axle and carrying the second-named axle adjacent the end thereof, arms extending laterally from opposite sides of said member, ribbon spools mounted at the ends of said arms, ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism associated with the spools and a ribbon guide associated with the end carrying the second axle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

18. In a recording machine, a printing couple including two elements, one being movable toward and from the other and comprising wheels of dissimilar diameters a1 'anged non-coaxially, an axle carrying the wheel of larger diameter, a. rocking frame supporting the axle, a member pivotally mounted at one end eccentrically of said axle and having intermediate of its length a detachable connection thereto, an axle for the wheel of smaller diameter carried by the other end of said member, and ribbon supporting and feeding mechanism also carried at the last-named end of said member, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

14. In a recording machine, a frame, a printing couple including two elements, one being movable toward and from the other and comprising two type wheels of dissimilar diameters, two sets of levers pivoted to the frame, the levers of each set extending substantially parallel to eachother, and one set being spaced apart from the other,a

shaft extending between corresponding levers of the sets, an axle supported by the other levers of such sets upon which the wheel of larger diameter is mounted, a memher having bearings on the shaft and the axle and having an arm projecting beyond such axle, a yoke carried by the arm, an axle carried by said arm on which the wheel of smaller diameter is mounted, ribbon mechanism carried by the yoke and including ribbon spools and parts for actuating the spools, respectively, and reversing means, and means for moving the levers for carrying the movable elements of the printing couple towers and from the other element, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

15. In a recording machine, a printing couple including two elements, one being movable toward and from the other and including two printing wieels of dissimilar diameter, a supporting member carrying the wheel of smaller diameter, ribbon mechanism also carried by said member, and rocking means for supporting said member and the type wheel of larger diameter and open able to move the type wheels toward and from the other member of the printing couple, said supporting member also being movable relatively to the rocking means for giving access to the ribbon mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. In a recording machine, a printing couple including two elements, one comprising a drum and the other two printing wheels arranged contiguous the periphery of the drum and movable toward and from the same, a supporting member for one of the printing wheels, ribbon mechanism also carried by said member and comprising ribbon spools located on opposite sides of a plane intersecting the axes of the type wheels and the drum and a guide located between the ribbon spools, and rocking frames carrying the supporting member and other type wheel, a pivotal connection between one end of the supporting member and one of the rocking frames and a detachable connection between the intermediate portion of the supporting member and the other rocking frame, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

17. In a recording machine, a printing couple including two elements, one comprising aplaten, and the other two printing wheels of dissimilar diameters, and movable about different axes and having registering peripheral portions normally separated from the platen and arranged closely adjacent thereto and movable toward and from the same, supporting means for the wheels including rocking mechanism, and a member movable with the rocking mechanism and having an independent movement, said member carrying the printing wheel of smaller diameter, and ribbon mechanism also carried by said member, the independent movement of the latter affording access to the ribbon mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a recordingmachine, a printing couple including two elements, one being movable toward and from the other and comprising a type wheel having an annular rack associated therewith, means for supporting and guiding the movable element including a rock shaft, a pawl carried by the shaft for coacting with the rack for centering the type wheel during the printing operation, means for actuating the supporting means for carrying the movable element of the printing couple toward and from the other element, and for operating the rock shaft preliminary to such relative movement, substantially as and for the purpose described.

19. In a recording machine, a frame, a printing couple including two elements, one being movable toward and from the other and comprising a type wheel having an annular rack associated therewith, a rocking frame carrying said wheel, a second rocking frame movable in parallelism with the first, a shaft carried by the second frame, a pawl carried thereby for cooperating with the rack, an endwisely movable rod having engaging shoulders, means located in the path of one of said shoulders for depressing the first-named rocking frame, and thereby moving the movable element of the printing couple toward the stationary element, and means in the path of the other shoulder for rocking said shaft and moving the pawl into engagement with the rack preliminary to the depression of the rocking frame, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the count of Onondaga, and in the State of New York, this 9 day of Nov., 1910.

CHARLES E. TOMLINSON. lVitnesses S. DAVIS, F. B. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

